LAS VEGAS — For someone making his UFC debut against the No. 3-ranked bantamweight, Pedro Munhoz held his own. And more important, he proved he belongs in the UFC.

That, however, wasn’t enough for the Torrance fighter by way of Brazil as the polished Assuncao dominated his way to a unanimous-decision victory on the prelims card at UFC 170 on Saturday at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Assuncao (21-4) looked bigger and more savvy, but Munhoz (10-1) did not disappoint. After taking the fight on 12 days’ notice after Francisco Rivera was forced to back out, the former Resurrection Fighting Alliance fighter, who trains at Black House MMA in Gardena, hung tough.

Assuncao was quicker to the punch, and while Munhoz covered up well, Assuncao landed a big left that caused a mouse to form under Munhoz’s left eye.

Assuncao finished the fight with a takedown to win his sixth consecutive fight in the UFC.